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South Shore Hearing Center541 Main Street, Suite 418
South Weymouth, MA 02190
781.337.6860
Do you have questions about hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), the anatomy of the ear or how hearing evaluations are performed? Here at South Shore Hearing Center we have the answers. Below are some questions that are commonly asked by patients and some helpful answers. If we did not answer your question, please Contact Us via the email form on your left or give us a call at to 781 337 6860, we will be glad to help!
 What is an audiologist? According to the State of Massachusetts Board of Examiners for Audiologists, an audiologist is a health care provider with a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Audiology who has completed a period of post-graduate supervised practice and has passed the National Examination in Audiology. Extensive academic and clinical training provides the foundation for patient management from birth through adulthood. Specializing in the prevention, identification and assessment of hearing and related disorders, audiologists also provide treatment, rehabilitative services and counseling to those diagnosed with hearing impairments. Responsibilities of audiologists also include routine fitting and dispensing of hearing aids and other assistive devices. » Back to top How is hearing loss measured? Hearing Loss is measured by assessing the ability to hear speech and frequency-specific tones as a function of the loudness required to hear them. In other words, hearing is essentially measured as "loudness versus pitch." Results are plotted on an audiogram. Loudness is plotted (on the audiogram) from top (quiet) to bottom (loud). Frequency is plotted from left (low) to right (high). Hearing loss (HL) is measured in decibels (dB) and is described in general categories (see below). PERCENTAGE OF HEARING LOSS: Although many people talk about hearing loss in terms of percentage, that is not an appropriate or meaningful measure of hearing loss. In fact, measuring hearing loss in percentage is like measuring height in degrees Celsius -- it makes no sense! Hearing loss is not measured in percentages, except in specific "legal" situations...where decibels of hearing loss are converted via a recognized legal formula to create a "percentage of hearing loss" for legal purposes only. The general hearing loss categories used by most hearing professionals are as follows: Normal hearing (0 to 25 dB HL) Mild hearing loss (26 to 40 dB HL) Moderate hearing loss (41 to 70 dB HL) Severe hearing loss (71 to 90 dB HL) Profound hearing loss (greater than 91 dB HL) » Back to top You mentioned “decibels levels” what does that mean? A decibel is a level of sound pressure/intensity. Here are some decibel levels of things that we hear (in SPL) 10 dB - Normal breathing 20 dB - Rustling leaves, mosquito 30 dB - Whisper 40 dB - Stream, refrigerator humming 50-60 dB - Quiet office 50-65 dB - Normal conversation 60-65 dB - Laughter 70 dB - Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer 75 dB - Dishwasher 78 dB - Washing machine 80 dB - Garbage disposal, city traffic noise Prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 dB can cause gradual hearing loss. 84 dB - Diesel truck 70-90 dB - Recreational vehicle 88 dB - Subway, motorcycle 85-90 dB - Lawnmower 100 dB - Train, garbage truck 97 dB - Newspaper press 98 dB - Farm tractor Regular exposure of 100+ dB for more than 1 minute risks permanent hearing loss. 103 dB - Jet flyover at 100 feet 105 dB - Snowmobile 110 dB - Jackhammer, power saw, symphony orchestra 120 dB - Thunderclap, discotheque/boom box 110-125 - dB Stereo 110-140 dB - Rock concerts 130 dB - Jet takeoff, shotgun firing 145 dB - Boom cars » Back to top What are the most common types of hearing loss? Although there are many types of hearing loss, the most common type is sensorineural (also called "cochlear" or "inner ear" or "nerve loss"), the second most common type of hearing loss is conductive Other types of hearing loss include; mixed and central. When the problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural hearing loss occurs. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. More than 90 percent of all hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are; age related changes, noise exposure, inner ear blood circulation, inner ear fluid disturbances and problems with the hearing nerve. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum or the tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of loudness of sound. Conductive loss may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations (hole) in the eardrum or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. People with conductive hearing loss may notice their ears seem to be full or plugged. This person may speak softly because they hear their own voice loudly. Crunchy foods, such as celery or carrots, seem very loud to the person with a conductive hearing loss and this person may have to stop chewing to hear what is being said. All conductive hearing losses should be evaluated by an audiologist and a physician to explore medical and surgical options. To demonstrate a conductive hearing loss, gently and safely close your ears with your fingers. This will give you the feeling of a conductive hearing loss…you’ll feel plugged-up, and you’ll feel a little hearing impaired. Interestingly, some people may tell you they don’t need hearing aids because they ONLY have a 30 decibel hearing loss. However, assuming you have normal hearing, when you plug your ears with your fingers, you’ll experience approximately a 25 decibel hearing loss – and you’ll quickly realize that even a VERY MILD hearing loss is quite irritating! » Back to top How do I know if I have hearing loss? Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age. Hearing loss can be due to aging, exposure to loud noise, medications, infections, head or ear trauma, congenital or hereditary factors, disease processes and other causes. The vast majority of hearing problems do not require medical or surgical intervention. Some 90 to 95 percent of all cases of hearing loss can be corrected with hearing aids. » Back to top How many people in the US have hearing loss? There are some 31.5 million people in the USA (as of 2005) with hearing loss. Hearing loss is the single most common birth "defect" in America. Approximately one third of all seniors aged 75 years and older have significant hearing loss. About 14 percent of all people aged 45 to 64 years have demonstrable hearing loss. Hearing loss negatively impacts quality of life, personal relationships and of course, the ability to communicate. How do I know if I have a hearing loss? You may have hearing loss if...
Written hearing tests, "dial a hearing test" and other online hearing tests are not 100% accurate and are not diagnostic, but they may be utilized as screening tools. Screenings are usually free and can be scored within seconds. Screenings may help validate that a hearing problem exists. » Back to top Could you provide me with additional specific information on hearing tests and other audiologic evaluations? Your hearing is a precious gift – one you need to take care of or run the risk of losing it. An important part of hearing care is having your hearing checked periodically. There are several levels of hearing evaluation, from a basic hearing test to more complex diagnostic tests for specific problems. Basic Hearing Testing A basic hearing test is performed in a quiet area (preferably a Sound Booth). An audiometer is a device that produces various pitch sounds (frequencies) at different levels (intensities). The person responds by either raising his/her hand or pushing a button. The results are charted on an audiogram, which gives the audiologist an indication of whether hearing is within normal limits or if a problem may exist. If a hearing loss is detected, usually more testing is performed to better define the nature and extent of the hearing loss and to determine which treatments or referrals are needed. Additional diagnostic testing There are many other tests that can be performed by the doctor of audiology to understand the extent and possible cause of the loss. Each evaluates a different part of the ear. Some of the typical tests performed are: Tympanogram – tests the eardrum and the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum) Acoustic reflexes – measures the movement of the tiny bones behind the eardrum Otoacoustic emission (OAE) – checks the function of the tiny little “hair cells” in the inner ear Speech testing – evaluates the effect of the hearing loss on understanding of speech. Sometimes this is performed both in quiet and with a background noise, using live or recorded voice Auditory Evoked Potentials (ABR) – checks the acoustic nerve function up to and into the first part of the brain (Pons) Electronystagmography (ENG) – evaluates the part of the inner ear controlling balance. Usually performed on individuals who experience dizziness or balance problem Auditory Processing Testing (APD/CAPD) – evaluates how the brain perceives or understands what the ear sends to it. Many times this testing is recommended for children who experience attention or learning problems, or adults who have normal ear function but still have “hearing” difficulty. » Back to top What can I do to prevent hearing loss? Fact: According to research sited by the Deafness Research Foundation, at least 70% of what has been traditionally diagnosed as “age-related hearing loss” is, in fact, due to a lifetime of toxic noise exposure. Fact: According to the National Council on Aging, untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased susceptibility to numerous other health complications, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, depressions, and anxiety, to name a few. Fact: California researchers documented a 300% rise in the presence of permanent noise-induced hearing loss in second graders over a 10-year period, and a 500% increase among eighth graders. (At this rate, permanent high frequency hearing loss will be present in more than 90% of the eighth grade population by 2012!) What these statistics say to us all is simple: without any attempt to lower the effects of toxic noise exposure, it is projected that by 2030 virtually every American over the age of 50 will have enough permanent hearing loss to require hearing aids to communicate. So, what can you do to prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Is there anything I can do about my ears ringing, since it is very distracting? Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, is fairly common and can be the symptom of many different problems–from mild to serious and there can be multiple causes of tinnitus. You should see your physician or have a thorough evaluation by a licensed audiologist to determine the cause and to recommend treatment options. If your ringing sensation is a result of hearing loss, it can be addressed through a variety of methods, which may relieve or even eliminate the situation. » Back to top What causes tinnitus? The exact cause (or causes) of tinnitus is not known in every case. There are, however, several likely factors which may cause tinnitus or make existing tinnitus worse: noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the ear canal, certain medications, ear or sinus infections, age-related hearing loss, ear diseases and disorders, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease, certain types of tumors, thyrid disorders, head and neck trauma and many others. Of these factors, exposure to loud noises and hearing loss are the most common causes of tinnitus. I strongly recommend that an audiologist and a physician should evaluate all tinnitus patients. » Back to top Is there anything that can be done to make my tinnitus worse/better? Things That Make Tinnitus Worse: Overexposure to noise Certain medications Alcohol Caffeine Excessive sodium intake Stress Some foods Things That Make Tinnitus Better Relaxation Wearing hearing protectors around high noise Masking the symptoms with pleasant music or recordings of nature sounds (ocean, babbling brook, etc.) Learning about tinnitus and possible methods to treat it Patience with any therapy – it takes time Possible Treatments for Tinnitus Hearing aids Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (Auditory Habituation) Masking Counseling Biofeedback Medications Others – hypnosis, acupuncture, herbal and dietary supplements, etc. » Back to top |
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